The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-02-03
Snppose, friends, that we just pause

Suppose, friends, that we just pause.
right here, and ask each others opinion
of the conditions, the indications, the
promises, of the times? How is the
world faring? What means are being
employed for the betterment of the
condition of mankind? How may
we, each in his weak way, do some
thing to render the fact of our having
lived in the world of some value to
the world, and how may we so live
and move and think, as to do some
honor to the Creator who gave US be-
ing? For ages mankind has lived one
perpetual conflict. The human race
consists Of people of such variety of
organisms that there must needs be a
conflict OF tastes and views in the
social system of every community
And the distressing feature about this
condition of things is that we are, as
rule, intolerant toward each other.
The man who cannot bear the annoy
ance OF the tobacco habit, feels deep
seated disgust for the man who can,
and the man " ho can has lofty con-
tempt for the man who cannot. The
man who spends half of the night
season playing cards, is considered
almost in the light Of criminal by
the man who cannot play, and the
man who cannot play is thought to
have missed a wealth of fun by the
man who plays. The moralist is con-
sidered crank by the loafer, and the
loafer is considered nuisance by the
moralist. The man who sees great
good resulting from church work, is
thought to be-no he is not thought
to be, but said to be-a hypocrite, by
the man who deems it sensational to
curse the church. So we go, with all
kinds of people, and all kinds of tastes.
But would it not be better, after all,
if we could agree as touching the real
good that may be accomplished In the
world about US, and throw our whole
effort toward securing its success, as
well as to agree upon the evils that
occur and by stunning them our
selves, and striving to get others to
shun them, thus assist one another in
reaching better condition of things?
There may be those agencies at work
in the world that do not meet with
our approval, in all features, yet there
may be much good wrought at last.
In the church-thought by many to
be filled only by good influences and
good people-there may appear occa-
sionally little specks Of discord upon
the spiritual sea which are sufficiently
large to frighten away some of those
who may have thought seriously upon
the subject of the better life. But
this criticising everything that comes
before us-this attempting to find
only the faults, to the utter ignoring
Of the good qualities utterly wrong.
Is it not best for US to endorse
everything in this life which we are
thoroughly convinced is for the up
building Of mankind? If there are
bad men and bad influences in society,
ignore them. We must necessarily
associate with all kinds Of people in
the business world, yet we do not feel
constrained to endorse and adopt every
evil practice that comes within the
scope of our knowledge. If there be
evil influences connected with the
church, ignore them. You will find
plenty of good people there who will
do you world of good. If you can
do better in some church organization,
then you should not lose day in get
ting into it. Wherever there is chance
for you to better your own condition,
and the condition of those about you,
there is the place for you. Friends,
let us look after the good that may be
accomplished in the world, and studi-
ously avoid the evil Gull the good
influences in the social and business
world and use them as instruments for
working still further improvement.
Assist the weak and tottering brother,
until he shall have strength sufficient
to stand. Throw aside all thoughtless
and nonsensical criticisms Of good in
fuences; seek not to find fault with
those who are earnestly striving to
live better life; be generous, be
noble; and let every man be hence
forth impelled by resolution to do
all id his power to build up himself
and his fellows, and make the world
better.